Bathtub construction



June 5, 1934. E. B. SCHLEGEL BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 14, 1934INVENTOR B. Sch L EGEL ATTORN Patented June 5 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION Edmund B. Schlegel, Brooklyn, N. Y.Application February 14, 1934, Serial No. 711,106 5 Claims. (01. 4-185)with use and/or chip or disfigure the bathtub and which, moreover, areunsanitary and render ready cleansing of the bathtub most difficult.

An object of the present invention therefore, is to provide an integralhead rest which may be integrally molded or formed with the bathtub,which may be readily cleansed, which will not necessitate clamping extradevices onto the bathtub and which will not substantially increase thecost manufacture.

In designing such an integral head rest it has been found important toform the head rest in such a way that the back of the headshall besolely supported without the neck of the bather at all coming in contactwith the edge of the bathtub or any part of the head rest.

It has been found that this is particularly desirable inasmuch since ifthe neck is supported on the back of the bathtub it is necessary forthe-bather to assume an uncomfortable position in the tub not conduciveto restful bathing and further necessitating an extra modification inbathtub structure over standard construction which may involvesubstantially increased expense in manufacture.

Furthermore, it has been found desirable to shape the head rest in sucha way that substantially no water will collect therein and so that readydrainage can be had at all times, with the result that the hair and thehead will remain dry if positioned in the head rest in dry condition, orwill readily drain and dry if positioned in the head rest in wetcondition. I

In addition, it has been found desirable to so form the head rest thatthe bather may conveniently lie slightly on his side, as well as on hisback, the rest being formed so that it will not always cause his head toslide to one position in the lower portion thereof, but will permit himto assume different positions within the tub.

Other objects of the present invention therefore, are to provide anintegral head rest in a bathtub of porcelain, ceramic or other suitablematerial which, although of relatively inexpensive construction, willmost conveniently and comfortably support the back of the head of thebather without compelling him to assume any undesirable or uncomfortableposition, which will be self-draining and readily cleansed, which willmaintain the hair and head dry if dry when placed thereon, which willpermit drying if the head or hair is placed wet thereon, and which willpermit a convenient oscillation or turning of the head of the bather soas to assume a position of maximum comfort.

Other objects will be obvious and will appear during the course of thefollowing specification.

In accomplishing these objects, as above stated, it has been found mostsatisfactory to form the head rest as an integral recess or depressionin the head end of the bathtub, which may be of porcelain, ceramic ormetal construction.

It has been found most desirable in forming this head rest to cause itto extend over the center back portion of the bathtub, for a distance ofsubstantially from two to three times the width of the head so that thehead may conveniently roll slightly from side to side therein, and toposition the recess so that it is substantially below the edge of thetub.

The bottom of the recess transversely of the bathtub is slightlyconcaved and longitudinally of the bathtub is slightly concave at itsrear portion and as it descends and merges with the bathtub, it becomesslightly convex.

The bottom of the recess is preferably formed with a series of ridges ofsuch width and shape that at their top faces they will convenientlysupport and conform to the back and sides of the head regardless ofposition, and give the feeling to the bather that his head is resting ona solid member without discomfort.

At the same time, the spaces between the ridges are of such width as topermit ready and speedy drainage of liquid from any portion of the headof the bathtub provided with the improved head rest of the presentinvention, formed integrally therein.

Figure 2 is a top view taken in the direction indicated by the numeral 2on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view in the direction of the numeral 3 on the line3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on thelines 4--4 of Figures 1 and 2, and Y Figure 5 is a fragmentary sidesectional view of a slight modification.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views on an enlarged scale of the ridgedconstruction.

As indicated in Figures 1 to 5 the bathtub is provided with a bottom 10,sides 11, back 12 and a rim 13, said rim extending entirely around theside walls.

The bathtub may be formed of ceramic material such as porcelain, ofvarious types of plastic materials or of metal materials, although thelatter are usually not preferred.

At the top of the back wall 12 of the bathtub below the top portion 14of the rim 13 is provided the recess 15. The recess 15 is substantiallydepressed below the top of the rim by the depth of the vertical step 16.It will be noted particularly uponFigures 1 and 4, that the floor of therecess slopes downwardly from the step 16 in the form of the slightlyconcaved member 17, which when it merges with the front and side wallsof the bathtub becomes slightly convexed as indicated at 18.

Along the width of the recess it will be noted in Figs. 1 to 3 that thefloor is slightly concaved at 19 in its center portion and it tends tostraighten or become slightly convexed toward'its edges 20, the base ofthe depression being formed by a series of ridges 21 which are separatedby the channels 22.

The ridges 21, as shown in Figure 6, are preferably so shaped andslanted as to drain to the depressions 22 and the depressions or grooves21 are so shaped, as shown in Figure 7, as to assure rapid drainage ofall water from the head rest recess into the bathtub cavity proper. Asshown in Fig. 4, the depressions .are slightly more depressed below thelevel of the ridges 21 at 18 than they are at 17, the depth of thedepressions being so regulated that they will extend substantially belowthe ridges by an increasing amount as to approach the front of thebathtub.

The ridges 21 are so proportioned both as to width and number and inrespect to the depressions 22 that the back of the head will feel as ifit were resting upon a substantially solid surface, and at the same timeready drainage and drying will be permitted, if the head is wet. Theshape of the grooves and ridges and the curvature of the whole recess issuch as to assure most rapid and speedy drainage and drying at all timesand most ready cleansing of the head rest recess.

It will be noted that these ridges .will support the head of the batherabove the bottom of the recess and substantial latitude is permitted forthe movement of the head of the bather from side to side. It will benoted in Fig. 2 that the back step or wall 16 of the recess 15 takes theform of a portion of a cylinder having a diameter equal to or aboutthree-quarters of the maximum width 23 of the head rest. The maximum.depth of the head rest 24 on the other hand, varies from onehalf toone-quarter of the width 23.

In Figure 5 is shown an alternative embodiment in which similarlyfunctioning parts are designated by the same numerals primed. In Figure5 the shape and proportion of the head rest is substantially the same asindicated in the embodiment in Fig. 4, except that a self-draininggroove 25 is provided to hold a lip 26 of a sponge rubber pad 27, if itis desired to use the same in the recess. As indicated, it is apparent,that, if the sponge rubber pad is removed, the recess 15 will functionsubstantially the same as the recess 15 of Figs. 1 to 4.

It is apparent that by the present invention the applicant has providedan integral, simple and satisfactory head rest adapted to bathtubs whichwill achieve the many advantages set forth above.

What is claimed is:

1. A bathtub provided with a substantial integral recesstoserve as aheadrest, said recess being of such a shape as to permit of oscillationor rolling of the head, to support the back of the head in a positionmost comfortable to the bather without contact with the neck, to be mostreadily cleansed and permit drainage, drying and maintenance of the headof the bather in dry condition, said recess being depressed below therim of the bathtub and the floor of the recess longitudinally firstbeing of concaved shape and which concavity initiates at a substantialdepth inside the rim of the bathtub, said concavity becoming a slightconvexity, as it merges into the rear face of the bathtub, and laterallyand centrally having a slight concavity which becomes slightly convexedadjacent the lateral ends of the head rest recess, said head rest havinga contour when viewed from the top ranging from one-quarter to one-halfmoon and being provided with a series of parallel ridges extendinglongitudinally of the tub and laterally of the recess, said ridges beingcurved on top so as to drain readily and so as to support the back ofthe head of the bather in the most comfortable position, and a series ofde-- pressed grooves between said ridges for readily and quicklydraining away the water collected in said headrest recess.

2. A bathtub provided with a substantial integral recess to serve as ahead rest, said recess being of such a shape as to permit of oscillationor rolling of the head, to support the back of the head in a positionmost comfortable to the bather without contact with the neck, to be mostreadily cleansed and permit drainage, drying and maintenance of the headof the bather in dry condition, said recess being depressed below therim of the bathtub and the floor of the recess longitudinally firstbeing of concaved shape and which concavity initiates at a substantialdepth inside the rim of the bathtub, said concavity becoming a slightconvexity as it merges into the rear face of the bathtub, and laterallyand centrally having a slight concavity which becomes slightly convexedadjacent the lateral ends of the head rest recess.

3. A bathtub provided with a. substantial integral recess to serve as ahead rest, said recess being of such a shape as to permit of oscillationor rolling of the head, to support the back of the head in a positionmost comfortable to the bather without contact with the neck, to be mostreadily cleansed and permit drainage, drying and maintenance of the headin dry condition of the bather, said recess being depressed below therim of the bathtub, and the floor of the recess, being provided with aseries of parallel ridges extending longitudinally of the tub"= andlaterally of the recess, said ridges being curved on top so as to drainreadily and'so as to support the back of the head of the bather in themost comfortable position, and a series of depressed channels betweensaid ridges for readily and quickly draining away thewater collected insaid head 15 rest recess.

4. A bathtub provided with a substantial integral recess to serve as ahead rest, said recess being of such a shape as to permit of oscillationor rolling of the head, to support theback of the head without contactwith the neck in a position most comfortable to the bather, to be mostreadily cleansed and permit drainage, drying and maintenance of the headof the bather in dry condition, said means being depressed below the rimof the bathtub and the floor of the recess, being of a contour whenviewed from the top ranging from one-quarter to one-half moon and beingprovided with a series of parallel ridges extending longitudinally ofthe tub and laterally of the recess, said ridges being curved on top soas to drain readily and soas to support the back of the head of thebather in the most comfortable position.

5. A bathtub provided with a substantial integral recess to serve as ahead rest, said recess being of such a shape as to permit of oscillationor rolling of the head, to support the back of the head in a positionmost comfortable to. the bather without contact with the neck, to bemost readily cleansed and permit drainage, drying and maintenance of thehead in dry condition of the bather, said recess being depressed belowthe rim of the bathtub and the floor of the recess longitudinally firstbeing of concaved shape and which concavity initiates at a substantialdepth inside the rim of the bathtub, the rear of the recess beingprovided with a self-draining groove extending along the wall thereof,and a rubber pad provided with a lip fitted in said groove and coveringsaid floor.

EDMUND B. SCHLEGEL.

